Name: Palm Beach Atlantic University Location: West Palm Beach, FL Religious Affiliation: No Official Denominational Affiliation or Religious Affiliation Enrollment: 2,784 Website: www.pba.edu Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS) |
Concerning GLBT Equality:
Palm Beach Atlantic University list of community values states:
“The list that follows identifies common violations. It is neither complete nor all-inclusive; yet, it provides examples of the types of behavior deemed inappropriate and prohibited within the PBA community…Sexual Misconduct:
a. Definition: Sexual activity which is inconsistent with biblical teaching such as sexual activity outside the bonds of marriage, sexual assault, sexual harassment, homosexual behavior, or the appearance of any one of these (e.g. staying overnight with a person).
b. Minimum Disciplinary Response: Immediate suspension for one semester.”
Repeated or first time offenses can result in explusion.
An article from the student newspaper:
Rogers delivered from gay lifestyle
by Abby McWhorter
Publish Date: January 31, 2005
Sy Rogers, a former homosexual-turned-pastor, speaker and recording artist addressed Palm Beach Atlantic University students in chapel at the start of the relationship series about his past struggles sexual struggles and the way God helped him through.
Mike Loomis, dean of students said, “I guess what impressed me the most was how he [Rogers] kept saying, ‘Lord, I have these temptations in my life. I have these issues in my life. I have these desires in my life. But I want You more.'”
Rogers talked about how humans are sexual creatures by nature and how the Church too often dodges sexual issues that occur among Christians, not to mention the world at large. His own life story was an enormous testimony to how God can change lives around, even in the worst cases of sexual brokenness. In Rogers’s case, he believed that God hated him primarily because of the way a lot of Christians treated him.
“Christians tried to reach out to me,” Rogers said. “But they made a classic mistake; they tried to win a moral argument with me.”
He said sometimes when dealing with homosexuality the Church forgets that it’s redeemed people that go to heaven, and both gays and straights go to hell.
Rogers, who lived for two years as a transvestite, stressed that although people may still live with some of the “residue” of their sexual sins and issues, Jesus is all-loving, and willing to clean people up and gradually wipe away the memories that can creep up so easily.
“When I felt dirty, he made me feel clean again. He made me feel appreciated and accepted,” Rogers said. “He’s a real-life person with tangible presence&He came to me and interrupted my life.”
The sexual and relational struggles that Rogers had are no different than others struggling with addiction to pornography or promiscuity. Even after more than 20 years of marriage he still has to ask God for help.
Years of childhood abuse and peer torment led Rogers to believe that he had lost his masculinity. Years later he eventually realized God loved him just as much when he was practicing homosexuality as he does now, married with a 19-year-old daughter. But, the real story is not that he was saved, Rogers said, but that he’s been in a strong relationship with God for 25 years. He said we need to run to God, not from Him.
“I could be slimed and defiled very easily,” he said. “Satan makes us think we’re bad and dirty and we must wash ourselves to make God happy again,” Rogers said.